U-23 camp - October 2019 - Miami

I feel like Kreis' rosters are much more sensible, display that he scouts pretty seriously, and weighs a # of variables to get around the best 23 possible (you're never going to agree w/ every choice) given the circumstances. And he's gotten better results to date. We have seen improvements in the team's performances.

Here it's clear 1st teams like NYCFC and FCD put the kiebash on call-ups of players like Parks and Pomykal, whose issue was they were too impactful to their clubs. Otherwise surely they'd be included. Really they should be on the senior squad. That further calls Gregg's decision-making into question that the reason they were excluded wasn't just to alternate between the u-23's to be leaders there and help us qualify for the Olympics. It was seniors or bust.

FWIW, I did think Kreis was a better coach than Berhalter before either were hired by USS. Kreis just made some poor job choices to join virtual expansion sides.

 

Parks has missed some time to injury and I think NYCFC wants him good to go for playoffs. Unfortunately his lack of callups and familiarity may cost him a spot on the qualifying roster.

It’s crazy how much talent there is here. Compared to the qualifying roster from 4 years ago it really shows how much the American development system has improved. Still we aren’t producing enough U23 stars to be a world power, but no longer are we calling players who are clearly not at the level. The competition for spots on this team, especially at center mid, is going to be insane.

 

Parks is injured. Pomykal is also nursing an injury. Not surprised by their exclusion. Happy to see Glad, Duncan, Vines, and Cappis. Not a bad roster at all.

 

I wouldn't make much of who was called in and who wasn't. These U-23 camps are mostly to keep players in the pool and playing games for the USA during international windows.

We aren't going to have our best players available for Olympic qualifying. Maybe we have closer to an "A" squad for the Olympics, but likely not very close.

 

Not our best but yeah, pretty strong looking roster.

 

Was Reyna left off because he can still play for the U17s? I assume Uly is out due to his injury. What about Araujo and Paxton?

EDIT* Based on the above you can ignore Paxton.

 

I can agree. Sure, there’s a guy here or there. But for the most part, somebody can look at this group, and say, that makes sense.

 

I’m just glad we have an u23 team for this reason. It’s awesome to keep these players into the fold, although most might not be quite ready for that next level. It still gets these guys some reps and teach them the system.

 

No, he was left off because he's a U-17 player. This is not a prospect showcase. This team should be comprised of entirely professional footballers.

Llanez and Araujo might have a better argument because they have already played with the U-20's (and Araujo is a first team pro), but they likely aren't good enough either for this team. I might've made an exception for Araujo (if I was coach) due to his recent comments about his initial snub from the U-20 team, but its likely that none of the players not in the '97-'00 years are good enough to play for the roster when the games start mattering and we have to pick the best available players.

It's boring to see a roster with players like Herrera, Mihailovic, Lewis, but if we want to qualify for the Olympics and then play well at that tournament, you can't turn this into a prospect showcase. You pick the best players. They'll likely almost entirely be from your older age groups.

 

Reyna didn't look out of place w/ Dortmund's 1st team in preseason and he's reportedly impressed w/ the u-23's at a camp earlier this year. I agree w/ the general philosophy, but as conveyed in the movie The Golden Child, you have to know when to break the rules. I would have called him in.

Disagree that Lewis is boring though for a u-23 team. His type of player is practically what the u-23 program is for, outside of the Olympics. Guys who are later developing so not quite good enough for the senior team, but still talented, who you want to back door to be of use. He's been productive per minute for a winger this season. A goal+assist every 120 minutes.

 

Winger is not deep in this pool. If Gio gets some 1st team time with BVB by the end of the season, I think he goes to Tokyo if we qualify.

 

I believe both Pax and Parks are nursing injuries.

 

In my opinion, Sabbi is better than Lewis.

 

Sabbi was less impressive in the u-20 CCAFship. Lewis has also had his moments for the senior team, while Sabbi was poor for the u-23's in their Europe trip. Sabbi has less than half the goal+assist rate this season in a league and team with half the Transfermarkt median as MLS + Colorado.

I genuinely think the grounds for your opinion is as simple as Sabbi being associated with a random European club as opposed to MLS one.

 

Yeah... I don't get the whole comment about him not being a professional footballer... well... because he is. That being said, he is a major part of the U17 Team and I understand why they would keep him there to play in the U17 WC this month. Furthermore, considering who his father is I don't think we have to worry about him defecting.

Araujo, Ledezema, Mendez, Pepi and Llanez are another matter. I think Uly is still hurt... so that is likely why he is absent from this roster despite his monster numbers to start the season. Pepi is playing with Reyna in the U17 WC and Ledezema/Mendez got the U23 nod.... that leaves Araujo. Another LA Galaxy product from the US playing for Mexico? I hope not. At this point, the Mexico NT is pretty stacked so I am not sure switching sides is all that advisable.

 

I would have selected Araujo. He's a great prospect who has looked like he belonged in MLS this season but has a tougher task making regular lineups competing with the likes of Venezuela senior int'l in Rolf Feltscher. I don't think Herrera would either, even though he's had a decent season in his own right. Not nearly the same upside as Araujo. That said, LA blocked his last opportunity w/ US youth sides, so don't know if he would have been released for this anyway. I'd definitely tell him he'd be here otherwise.

Mendez should have been left off, imo. Today he got off the Jong Ajax bench behind another player who can't make our u-17's in Pynadath. At the u-20 WC he was mediocre. I could be wrong in the end, but I'm not high on him as a prospect because his lack of much else besides a nasty left foot right now, and he hasn't performed nearly well enough against men for him to be called up on merit anyway.

 

This is not your Sabbi of old, the kid as improved. I didn't think much of him when he played for the U20 tourney when Sargent played but now he is starting to put his game together, he is not just a fast, strong aimless winger.

P.S. I don't just say a player is better simply because he is playing abroad.

 

I wasn’t stating that Lewis is boring or a player without real NT potential. I think he’s a good player and he should be getting some minutes for the senior NT with how he’s producing, but he’s not a name with star power. I was naming older players on that roster who play regularly at a good enough professional level, despite not being considered big time talents by most people. Lewis is going to lose out to a name like Reyna or Llanez on hype, but he’s better than both (for now) IMO.

 

He plays every week in a U-19 league and has never played in a pro game that counts. He’s not even listed on the first team roster. He’s not a pro. To be fair, neither is Llanez. Good players (who could be professionals already in MLS), but when you take that route, it might take a little longer to get to the professional game.

 

The defenders and midfielders are strong. The forwards and goal keepers less so.

An MLS team denying a release should be a scandal.

 

Sorry if someone already asked, but do you know if Araujo was called up but not released by LAG?